The Life and Politics of Peadar O’Donnell: Part 1

Part 2: http://republicanyouth.org/articles/peader-o-donnell2
Part 3: http://republicanyouth.org/articles/peader-o-donnell3

Introduction 

The first time I heard of Peadar O’Donnell I was about 12 when I had bought a book on Donegal and the tan war. However when I was around 17 I learned much more about his life and politics, I dedicated my leaving cert history project three years ago to his life. As a young Donegal republican I cannot but be inspired by a man whose life is one of struggle here and abroad. O’Donnell is not only an inspiration to me but to many other Irish Republicans and socialists also. In the next series of articles I’ll look at his eventful life and the basis of his radical republican politics. 

Early years 

O’Donnell was born in 1893 at Meenmore, Dungloe, Donegal. For those not familiar with the area it is a rural Gaeltacht in the west of the county. So as you could imagine he grew up in an area rich with the Gaelic language and culture. The Gaeltacht areas of Dungloe, Burtonport and the islands had a sense of communities working together or what is known as Meitheal. A man named Paddy “the cope” Gallagher established several cooperatives in the Rosses area of Donegal, O’Donnells mother was involved in the running of one the coops.* His mother also was a nationalist and a Larkinite. O’Donnells uncle was a member of the International Workers of the World in America. It is clear the culture and upbringing he grew up with played a major role in developing both his social and national consciousness. 

O’Donnell went on to become a teacher on Arranmore island. He was posted to a run down school with a hole in the roof above his desk, so he used an umbrella when it rained. O’Donnell asked the parish priest for repairs to be done, he refused to have anything done about it. This led to O’Donnell and other locals to knock it down, in order for a new school to be built. He was a member of the Irish National Teachers Organisation while working in Aranmore. Many people known as “tatie-hokers” in rural Donegal especially in the Rosses left to work In Scotland during the summer months. O’Donnell and his family were among them but in 1918 another radical influence to his life was the trade union and socialist movement in Scotland at that time.

The ITGWU 

O’Donnell became a full time organizer for the ITGWU. His work took him all around the country, while in Mayo he read Das Kapital and other writings of Marx. He had organised both Protestant and Catholic workers in Antrim. This led to him going to Derry to organise, however unionist workers became skeptical of trade unions as they saw them as instruments of republicanism. When O’Donnell saw the orange card effectively being played against the union in Derry he went to Monaghan. In Monaghan he organised workers at the county asylum and it resulted in an occupation of the workplace. It is known to be the first soviet established outside the USSR. After this O’Donnell had decided to join the local Monaghan IRA. 

The Struggle for Irish freedom.

O’Donnell had many influences on his politics. Whether that be the communalism and cooperativism of rural Donegal, his radical mother and uncle or of course his reading of Marx. However another major influence was the 1916 rising which saw the Irish people rise against their colonial rulers of Britain. O’Donnell realised that radical change in society can only happen via the freedom of Ireland. O’Donnell spent the first few months of the war in Monaghan before coming back to Donegal. In December 1920 Peadar O’Donnell went to the Shamrock hall in Derry in order to establish a new flying column for Donegal. He was successful in his quest. Two of his brothers Frank and Joe had joined the new IRA column alongside him.

One of the first actions of the new Donegal column led by O’Donnell was at Meenbanad January 12th 1921. His cousin Joe Sweeney blocked a railway for a train that was coming. The IRA party had opened fire on the carriages full of British troops. The troops returned fire but were unable to see the column in the cover of darkness. When the whistle for retreat was blown there were no republican casualties despite the enemy being armed with a Lewis machine gun and outnumbering them. The number of casualties on the British side has varied from different accounts. British records indicate none were killed but it is said by others that between 12-50 had been killed or wounded in the attack. It’s said that the blood from the carriages was seen flowing onto the tracks. A similar ambush would take place in Crolly a week later. 

The Column alongside local IRA structures would continue to carry out operations on Barrack’s and enemy patrols throughout Donegal and even Derry. In Derry his column fired on RIC patrols and threw grenades at army installations. O’Donnell and others of the Column were chased up the Glendowan mountains where he got wounded in the arm and hand. He continued to make his getaway despite his arm only hanging on by the flesh. Nurses from Cumman na MBan catered to O’Donnells wounds. 

Betrayal of the republic and counter revolution

O’Donnell knew the caliber of Griffith and Collins was not that of Irish Republicanism but of compromise and monied interests. O’Donnell referred to Collins as “a fenian home ruler” due to his use of violence but support for the treaty. He felt once the revolutionary leadership of 1916 was removed it was replaced by conservative elements. He couldn’t be more right, the 1916 proclamation and democratic programme was shelved. When the IRA took over the four courts O’Donnell with them as part of the army executive, It was here that he befriended Liam Mellows. He had viewed Mellows as one of the political brains of contemporary Irish Republicanism (although credit should be given to O’Donnell himself).

In prison both of the men spoke not only of partition but the social and economic dimension to the struggle. In fact Peadar convinced Mellows to write his ideas and social program while in Mountjoy. Unfortunately Mellows, Joe McKelvey, Dick Barrett and Rory O’Connor faced the firing squad. Peadar thought he’d be next in line at any minute. His cousin Joe Sweeney was now the commander of the Free State forces in Donegal and signed the execution of the Drumboe martyrs. So when he was brought to Finner camp he feared his own cousin might be the one who’d have him shot. In August 1923 he was elected as a Sinn Féin TD for Donegal. After a 41 day hunger strike he’d escape from prison in 1924 and find himself back in the struggle. 

*Paddy “the cope” earned his nickname due to his pronunciation of Coop, “the cope” is the name of the Coop chain in Donegal and it exists to this day. His Grandson is Pat “the cope” Gallagher.

Le Adrian Gallagher